Mechanism for actuating closing devices



March 27, 1934.

B. F. 'QUINTILIAN MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING CLOSING DEVICES Filed March 26, 1932 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 [jar/k 010777611/12977AQW/2/27i22,

INVENTOR,

G&M.Mw

ATTORNEY.

March 27, 1934. QU|NT|| |AN 1,952,821

MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING CLOSING DEVICES Filed March 26, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

March 27, 1934. QUINTILIANQ 1,952,821

MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING CLOSING DEVICES Filed March 26, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BY J ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 'MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING CLOSING DEVICES Bartholomew Frank Quintilian, Baltimore, Md.,

assignor to May Oil Burner Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Application March 26, 1932, Serial No. 601,400

11 Claims.

This invention relates to novel closing devices and means for actuating the same and has particular reference to the application of a device of this character to a window of the double sash type.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of a means whereby a window or other closure may be closed in a gradual manner free from shock to the closure itself and the structure'wherein it operates. A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of this character which may be manually operated, electrically operated by either direct or remote control, time operated through an agency of the alarm clock type, or by a combination of two or more of these methods.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of this character whereby any one or more of the methods of operation set forth in the previous paragraph may be used conjointly with other automatic regulating means such as thermostats, alarm clocks or other signalling devices.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of this character which may be used in closing a window of a building by any one or more of the methods heretofore set forth; the mechanism being quiet, easily operated, substantially entirely hidden from view so as to avoid marring the appearance of the window or wall of the room, and designed to allow the window sash to descend to its closed position in a gradual manner by reliable and dependable means.

Other, further, and more specific objects of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

'Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of a window of the double hung sash type with the operating and controlling mechanism applied thereto, a portion of the structure being broken away to show the location of the cables by which the window sash is moved.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the operating and controlling mechanism, the front portion of the casing being removed and parts of the structure being broken away to illustrate the interior mechanism of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental view showing in elevation the release and latching mechanism of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the centrifugal governor and the spindle upon which it is carried.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the spline-clutch of the handle for raising the window. 69

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cable dog operating as a latch release for the brake mechanism.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing in diagrammatic manner the location of the electric circuit control means in a system where the closure is operated electrically.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hand brake release.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the member comprising the brake-arm and the armature.

The operating and controlling mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 1 is shown applied to an ordinary type of window frame 2 holding the upper sash 3 and lower sash 4. A hoisting cable 5 is securely positioned at 6 and 7 to each side of the sash frame 8 and passes around the pulleys 9, 10, 11 and 12. These pulleys are mounted for rotation upon pins or axles secured at suitable locations in the window frame. The portion of the cable 5 between the pulleys 11 and 12 supports a movable pulley 13 and is sagged to form the two branches 14 and 15. A winding cable 16 is connected at one end to the pulley 13 and at the other end to the drum 17 which is mounted and fastened to revolve with its shaft 18 supported in the casing 19 of the operating and controlling mechanism 1. The cables 5 and 16 are preferably made of rope but may consist of any other suitable flexible material.

Attached to the drum 1'? is a disc 20 having the peripheral teeth 21 and forming a gear which engages the pinion 22 at right angles thereto. The pinion 22 is fixed to the shaft 23 operating in the bracket bearing 2% suitably fastened to the casing 19. A spline-clutch 25 having the notches 26 is mounted to move freely upon the shaft 23 and is fastened by the pin 27 to the shaft 28 which is supported to revolve in the bracket bearing 29 suitably fastened to the casing 19. The shaft 28 is internally threaded at the end extending outwardly through the bracket 29, so as to receive and engage the detachable crank handle 30. A spring 31 is disposed within the spline clutch 25 and normally forces the latter away from the shaft 23. By pushing the spline-clutch 25 against the tension of this spring, the projections 32 upon the shaft 23 are brought into the notches 26 so that when the spline-clutch 25 is turned, as through the operation of the crank handle 30, the

shaft 23 will also turn therewith, communicating this movement through the pinion 22 and gear disc 20 to the drum 17.

The rotary movement of the drum 17 is also transmitted to the gear 33 fixed to the shaft 18, to the pinion 34 and gear 35 secured to the shaft 36, supported in the casing 19, to the pinion 37 and gear 38 fixed to the shaft 39, supported in the casing 19, to the worm 4.0 and to the shaft spindle 41 supported in the bearings 42 and 43 which are in fixed relation to the casing 19.

The shaft spindle 41 carries a centrifugal governor comprising the fiy weights 44 supported upon the springs l5 which are fastened at one end to a collar 46 which is fixed to the spindle shaft 41, the other ends of each spring 45 being fastened to a slidable collar 47 upon the shaft spindle 41. A disc 48 is also connected to the slidable collar 47 and moves therewith.

A brush 49 made of felt, fiber, leather or other similar suitable material is positioned so as to make and break contact with the disc 48 as will appear in a further description of this part of the device. The brush 49 is gripped in the folded end 50 of the brake-arm 51 which is made preferably integral with the armature 52. This member comprising the brake-arm 51 and armature 52 is pivoted at 53 on a pin or shaft passing through the lobes 54 which are preferably integral with the housing 55 for the electromagnet 56. The free end of the armature 52 is bent to form a hook 57 terminating in the end 58. A leaf-spring 59 having a slot 69 engages the end 53 of the hook portion 57. Another spring 61 is fastened at one end either directly or by means of a bracket 62 to the housing 55 or some other stationary por-- tion of the device, and at the other end the spring 61 is fastened to the brake-arm 51. The tension of this spring 61 serves to draw the brakearm 51 forward, thereby causing the brush 49 to make frictional contact with the disc 48, and at the same time moving the end 58 of the hook portion of the armature away from the slot 60.

The magnet 56 is connected by means of the wire leads 63 to the terminals as from which an electrical connection is made to a suitable source of electric current. A transformer 65 may be placed in the electric circuit to adjust the current and voltage, and one or more switches, pushbuttons, automatic timing devices or alarm circuit closing devices 66 may also be placed in the circuit for direct control, remote control and automatic electric or thermostat control, with or without accompanying alarms or combinations of these controls.

When the electrical circuit is closed as by operation of the switch or push-buttons 66 the magnet 56 becomes energized, thus attracting the armature 52 which moves about the pivot 53 against the tension of the spring 61. This causes the end 58 to slide along the spring 59 into the slot 60 thereby locking or latching the armature. During this attraction of the armature 52 by the magnet 56 the brake-arm 51 turns aboutthe pivot 53 and moves the brush 50 away from the disc 48.

Another means providedfor moving the brush 50 away from the disc 48 is the hand-brake release. This consists of the arm 67 pivoted upon the shaft 68 which projects from the spacing member 69. The other arm 70 of the handbrake release has a portion 71 angularly inclined thereto. Normally the arm 67 is held against the housing 19 by the tension of the spring 72 which is coiled about the shaft 68. By hand movement of this arm 67 against the tension of the spring 72, the arm 70 moves the angular portion 71 so that the end 73 bears against the brake-arm 51 rocking it about its pivot 53, thereby moving the brush 49 away from the disc 48 and simultaneously moving into the slot 60 of the leaf-spring 59 the end 58 of the hooked portion of the armature 52.

Upon the shaft 18 there is fixed a ratchet '74, the teeth of which engage a pawl 75 fixed upon the disc 76 which is attached to the drum 17. The pawl 75 is forced into continuous engagement with the ratchet teeth by means of the pawl spring 77 which is also secured to the disc 76. This pawl and ratchet mechanism admits free movement of the drum 17 upon its shaft 18 only in one direction; that is, the direction in which the winding cable 16 is wound upon the drum 17 and thereby raises the lower sash 4 of the window. Free reverse rotation is prevented by the pawl and ratchet mechanism, and reverse rotation of the drum can take place only by carrying the gearing mechanism from the disc gear 20 to the worm 40 along with it.

The spacing members 69, 78 and 79 are positioned between the side walls of the casing 19 and serve to space these walls in proper relation to each other and to provide proper rigidness to the structure. The bearings 42 and 43, which support the shaft spindle 41 rest in the spacing members 69 and 78, respectively.

The spacing member 79 serves as a pivot for the member known as the cable dog. This cable dog comprises the channel shaped arm 80, the sides of which have at their ends pin bores in alignment with each other to support the pin 31, which extends from the one side of the channel through the other side and terminates in the free end portion 82. The other end of the cable dog comprises the bent arm 83 which is shaped so that its end 8& terminates close to the leaf spring 59. Another leaf spring 85connected to the casing 19 bears against the arm 80 of the cable dog, themovement of the cable dog under the infiuence of the spring being limited by the periphery of the disc 76. When the cable 16 is slack, it does not exert any pressure against the pin 81 and the arm 80 of the cable dog is forced by the spring 85 toward the disc 76 until the pin 81 bears against the periphery of the disc 76 while the bent arm 83 is simultaneously rocked about the pivot 79 so that its end 84 bears down and depresses the spring 59, thereby unlatching the armature 52 if the end 58 is held in the slot 60. However, when the cable 16 is taut, it will bear against the pin 81 and rock the arm 80 about the ivot 79 and against the tension of the spring 85, thereby moving bent arm 83 upward so that its end 84-will not bear the spring 59 down, the latter being permitted to return to the undepressed position to again serve as a spring latch for the armature 52 when it is moved and its end 53 slips into the slot 60.

The operating and controlling mechanism when inserted in the window frame is practically all hidden from view by the outer framework and does not mar the appearance of the window. The face plates 86 rest against the inner framework of the window and are pr0- vided with bores 87 to receive bolts or other fastening means for securing this mechanism to the framework. The arm 67 of the hand brake release protrudes an unobjectional distance from the outer framework of the window and the handle 30 of the crank which projects through an opening in'the outer framework is detachable and may be taken oif when not in use if desired, the casing 19 may be made-with parts which are detachable so as'to afford convenient access to the interior of the structure.

The operation of the device is as follows With the window sash 4 in the closed position the cable 16 is slack and the spring 59 is depressed by the spring bearing on the cable dog. The member comprising thebrake-arm .51 .and armature'52 is therefore unlatched from the leaf spring 59 and the brake-arm 51 is drawn by the spring '61 so as to bring the brush 49 at the end of this brake-arm .against the disc 48. By moving the crank handle 36 and forcing the spline-clutch 25 inwardly so as to engage the projections'32 and then turning this handle, the drum 1'7 will be rotated to .windthe cable 16 upon it. The window sash 4 can thereby be raised to the desired height. Just as soon as the window sash begins to rise, the cable 16 will become taut and bear against the cable dog, thereby rocking the cable dog so that the end 84 will cease to bear the spring 59 down and thus release this spring- 59 to return to the position to serve as a spring latch for the armature 52 whenit is rocked and its end 53 is brought into position for slipping into the slot 60. During the winding of the cable upon th drum, the ratchet '74 and pawl'75 allow the drum to rotate freely. However, the pawl and ratchet prevent free rotation of the drum in the direction for unwinding the cable 16, and the drum cannot revolve in this reverse directionindependently of the gearing from the gear disc 20 to the worm 40. The weight of the window sash 4 exerts a pull on the cable 16 tending to unwind it from the drum 17, but the high gear-ratio involved in the transmission of motion from the gear disc 20 to the worm 40 is such that the friction. of the brush 49 which now bears against the disc 48 is sufficient to prevent reverse rotation of the drum and to overcome the effect of the pull on the cable 16 by the sash 4 tending to unwind the cable 16 from the drum. The window sash 4 will thus be held to whatever height it'has been raised irrespective of whether the crank handle 39 be taken off or allowed to remain attached to the mechanism.

The window sash may be lowered through manual operation by actuating the arm 67 of the hand brake release. The movement of the arm 67 causes the end 73. of the angularly inclined portion to bear against the brake-arm 51 thereby simultaneously latching the brake-arm 51 and disengaging the brush 49 from the disc 48. With the brush 49 disengaged from the disc 48 there will no longer be the frictional resistance; also, the gearing mechanism will not of itself offer sufficient resistance to prevent reverse rotation of the drum through the pull of the cable 16 by the sash 4. The sash will therefore begin to descend, causing'the cable 16 to unwind from the drum and revolving the drum and the gearing from the gear disc 20 to the worm 40 as well as the spindle 41. Owing to the high gear ratio, slow downward movement of the window sash 4 Will produce a high speed of revolution of the spindle 41. The effect of the centrifugal force upon the weights 44 by'this rapid rotation of the spindle 41 will be to throw these weights outwardly against the tension of the springs 45 and simultaneously cause the disc 48 on the slide collar 4'? to move toward the dei --tachedbrush 49 until contact is re-established.

opposing forces will very readily take place and operated under-different conditions.

specific-examples for operating the lower sash of a two-sash window are adaptable for use with other sashes than the lower one, and can :also be This contact will produce a braking action against the downward movement of the window sash similar to that obtaining .before the brakearm 67 was actuated. .A balancebetweenthese the. window sash will descend gradually until-the closing position is reached.

The speed :of descent will depend upon the distance necessary to. move the disc 48. by the centrifugal action of the fly weights-44 in 're-establishing contact with the brush 49. This distance may be adjusted by loosening the collar 46,'sliding the governor to the proper position on the governor. shaft and then re-tightening the collar.

When the-window sash. 4 reaches the closed .position,,the cable will slacken, thus permitting the-cable dog to depress the spring 59, .asheretofore. described, thereby unlatching the armature 52 :andpermitting the brush 49 to be drawn intocontact with the disc 48 by. the tensionvof the spring 61, on the brake-arm .51. The sash 4 is now again in position .to be elevated by means of the crank handle 30.

An alternative method of lowering the. window sash fromits raised position is as follows. In lieu. of the manual operation by the hand brake release, the electric circuitcontaini-ng the'magnet 56 may be closed, whereupon the armature 52 is drawn to the magnet 56 and the end 58 is latched in the slot 60 of the leaf spring 59. Simultaneous with this movement, the brakearm 51 is moved'against the tension of thespring 61 thereby disengaging the brush 49 from the disc 48. The sash will then begin to descend .and this descent will be automatically controlled by the governor as when the armatureis latched through'the actuation of the hand brake release. The closing of the electric circuit may be accomplished in a variety of. waysysuch .as push button, switch, direct control, remote control, time'control, thermostat control, etc., and if.'de sired, two or more of. these electric'closing means may-be provided-so that the mechanism may be The period during' which the circuit is closed need not be long, and it has been'found practical to'employ circuitclosers,- which close the-electric circuit for an--instant 'at each actuation.

I he means which have been set forth-in the used withother types of closures, such as gates, variousforms of ventilators, furnace drafts, etc.

-.Where the newmechanism embodying this invention is used with alarm-clocks or. other timecontrolled devices, such as employed in heater, radiator and oil-burner control, thetime of actuation may be regulated for this new mechanism to function either at the same time or at diiferent times from the other co-operating devices.

When this noveloperating and closing mechanism is used'on a window, it is not only almost entirely hidden from view, but its position atoneside of the window frame and clear from the sash makes it free from interference by and with the operation of window screens.

The present invention is not limited to the specific details set forth in the foregoing examples which should be constructed as illustrative and not by way of limitation, and in view of the numerous modifications which may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope-of this invention, it is desired that .only

such limitations be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An actuating mechanism comprising a revoluble member having a cable extending therefrom and adapted to wind thereon, a centrifugal governor, gearing connecting said revoluble member to said governor for transmitting a highly multiplied rotating speed to said governor, means for allowing said revoluble member to move freely in one direction independently of said gearing and preventing movement of said revoluble member in the other direction independent of said gearing, a sliding element connected to said governor and adapted to rotate therewith, a friction element adjacent to said sliding element and not revoluble with said governor, means for controlling contact between said friction element and sliding element when the governor is not rotating, said latter means comprising a braking member connected to said friction element, a locking member for locking said braking member in position for no contact between said friction element and sliding element, a lock release for allowing said braking member to effect contact between said friction element and sliding elem nt, said lock release being disposed to release said locking member when said cable is slack and to reset said locking member in position for relocking when said cable is taut and means for movin said brake member into the locked position, and means for regulating contact between said friction element and sliding element when the governor is rotating.

2. A mechanism for actuating a window sash, said mechanism comprising a flexible cable for supporting the sash, another flexible cable cooperating with the first cable and attached to a rotatable drum, means for bringing the sash to any desired open position by turning said drum andwinding the second cable thereabout, means for releasing the sash from any open position and allowing same to move to the closed position, means comprising a friction element and a cooperating sliding element for automatically controlling the movement toward the closed position to effect a shockless and noiseless closing, means for maintaining the open position of the sash comprising a spring-actuated brake member disposed to effect contact between said friction element and said sliding element, and an element disposed to unlatch the brake member when the second cable is slack and pressure of the second cable against said latter element is withdrawn and to reset said latch for locking said brake member when said second cable is taut and said second cable exerts pressure against said latter element.

3. A'mechanism for actuating a window sash, said mechanism comprising a flexible cable supporting the sash, another flexible cable co-operating with the first cable and attached to a rotatable drum, means for bringing the sash to any desired open position by turning said drum and winding said second cable thereabout, a centrifugal governor, gearing connecting said drum to said governor and constrained to move with said drum when the latter revolves in one direction while independent of movement with said drum when the latter revolves in the opposite direction, means for releasing the sash from any open position and allowing same to move to the closed position, means comprising a spring-actuated brake member having a friction element co-operating with said governor for automatically controlling the movement toward the closed position to eifect a shockless and noiseless closing and for maintaining the open position of the sash, and a cable dog disposed to unlatch the brake member when the second cable is slack and pressure of the second cable against said dog is withdrawn and to reset said latch for locking said brake member when said second cable is taut and said second cable exerts pressure against said dog.

4. A mechanism for actuating a window sash, said mechanism comprising a flexible cable for supporting the sash, another flexible cable cooperating with the first cable and attached to a rotatable drum, means for winding the latter cable on said drum to bring the sash to any desired open position, an automatic governor and a friction element for controlling the unwinding of the latter cable from said drum to allow the sash to move toward the closed position and to effect a shockless and noiseless closing, gearing connecting said drum to said governor and constrained by a ratchet mechanism to move with said drum when the latter revolves in one direction while independent of movement with said drum when the latter revolves in the other direction, means for maintaining the open position of the sash comprising a spring-actuated brake member disposed to efiect contact between said friction element and said governona cable dog disposed to unlatch the brake member when the second cable is slack and pressure of the second cable against said dog is withdrawn and to reset said latch for locking said brake member when said second cable is taut and exerts pressure against said dog, hand actuated means for disengaging said friction elements from said governor and automatic, electric, remote-control means for disengaging said friction element from said governor.

5. In a mechanism for operating a window sash, a drum, a cable wound on said drum and supporting the sash, a sliding element controlled by a centrifugal governor, a spring-actuated, pivoted member having a contacting element cooperating with said sliding element, said elements when in engagement serving to arrest or retard movement of the window sash, means for latching said member after it is moved against the tension of its spring to bring said contacting element to a point where it is out of engagement with said sliding element until said sliding element is brought against said contacting element by the action of the centrifugal governor, means for releasing said latch, said latter means comprising another spring-actuated, pivoted member having a part thereof movable against said latching means to unlatch said first named member and another part movable by a cable of the window sash against spring tension when said cable is made taut, said latter movement effecting disengagement of the last named member and the latch from each other.

6. In a mechanism for operating a window sash, a drum, a cable wound on said drum and supporting the sash, a sliding element controlled by a centrifugal governor, a spring-actuated, pivoted member having a contacting element cooperating with said sliding element, friction means on the face of at least one of said elements, said elements when in engagement serving to arrest or retard movement of the window sash, means for latching said member after it is moved against the tension of its spring to bring said contacting elements to a point where it is out of engagement with said sliding element until said sliding element is brought against said contacting element by the action of the centrifugal governor, means for releasing said latch, said latter means comprising another spring-actuated, pivoted member having a part thereof movable against said latching means to unlatch said first named member and another part movable by a cable of the window sash against spring tension when said cable is made taut, said latter movement effecting disengagement of the last named member and the latch from each other.

'7. In a mechanism for operating a window sash, a drum, a cable wound on said drum and supporting the sash, a (sliding element controlled by a centrifugal governor, a spring-actuated, pivoted member having a contacting element cooperating with said sliding element, friction means on the face of at least one of said elements, said elements when in engagement serving to arrest or retard movement of the window sash, means for moving said member against the tension of its spring to bring said contacting element to a point where it is out of engagement with said sliding element until said sliding element is brought against said contacting element by the action of the centrifugal governor, means for latching said member after said movement, means for releasing said latch, said latter means comprising another spring-actuated, pivoted member having a part thereof movable against said latching means to unlatch said first named member and another part movable by a cable of the window sash against spring tension when said cable is made taut, said latter movement effecting disengagement of the last named member and the latch from each other.

8. In a mechanism for operating a window sash, a drum, a cable wound on said drum and supporting the sash, a sliding element controlled by a centrifugal governor, a spring-actuated, pivoted member having a contacting element cooperating with said sliding element, friction means on at least one of said elements, said elements when in engagement serving to arrest or retard movement of the window sash, means actuated by hand and/or automatic actuation for moving said member against the tension of its spring to bring said contacting element to a point where it is out of engagement with said sliding element until said sliding element is brought against said contacting element by the action of the centrifugal governor, means for latching said member after said movement, means for releasing said latch, said latter means comprising another spring-actuated, pivoted member having an end thereof movable against said latching means to unlatch said first named member and another part movable by a cable of the window sash against spring tension when said cable is made taut, said latter movement effecting disengagement of the end of the last named member and the latch from each other.

9. In a mechanism for operating a closure, a drum, a cable wound on said drum and supporting the closure, a braking means for arresting or retarding the movement of the closure toward its closing position, a latch for holding the braking means in position for retarding the said movement of the closure, means for releasing said braking means from the latch and for resetting said latch, said latter means comprising a spring-actuated, pivoted member having a part thereof movable by a cable of the closure against tension of the spring when said cable is taut and thereby bringing a part of said member to bear against said latch, and said spring operating to force said other part of said member away from said latch when said cable is slack.

10. In a mechanism for operating a window sash, a drum, a cable wound on said drum and supporting the sash, a braking means for arresting or retarding the movement of the sash toward its closing position to effect a shockless and noiseless closing, a latch for holding the braking means in position for retarding the said movement of the sash, means for releasing said braking means from the latch and for resetting said latch, said latter means comprising a spring-actuated, pivoted member having a part thereof movable by a cable of the sash against tension of the spring when said cable is taut and thereby bringing a part of said member to bear against said latch, and said spring operating to force said other part of said member away from said latch when said cable is slack.

11. In a mechanism for operating a window sash, a drum, a cable wound on said drum and supporting the sash, a braking means for arresting or retarding the movement of the sash toward its closing position, a latch for holding the braking means in position for retarding the said movement of the sash, and a cable dog disposed to unlatch the braking means when the cable of the sash is slack and pressure of said cable against said dog is withdrawn and to reset said latch for locking when said cable is taut and said cable exerts pressure against said dog.

BARTHOLOMEW FRANK QUINTILIAN. 

